A novel by R. S. Profilio

When Franco Belmonte loses his wife unexpectedly, the carefully built life they shared collapses beneath him. Grief and guilt pull him into isolation, and the world becomes a place he no longer recognises. But when a close friend forces him to leave Australia and take time abroad, Franco reluctantly embarks on a journey that will lead him across Europe — through ruins, cathedrals, cafés, and unexpected conversations — each one challenging the man he used to be.

From the quiet shores of a Mediterranean island to the historic streets of Paris, Franco is haunted not just by the memory of his wife, but by the fragile hope that something meaningful might still be waiting for him. Along the way, a chance encounter with a young Czech woman begins to stir feelings he thought were long buried. But can love exist in the shadow of loss? And is it ever truly possible to begin again?

Love’s Second Chapter is a tender, emotionally layered story about grief, healing, and the courage it takes to open your heart — even when it still aches.